Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study
Open-source collaboration, as both an open and cooperative software development paradigm and a novel production model in the era of the industrial internet, plays a pivotal role in overcoming technological bottlenecks in the industrial software industry. However, previous studies have often treated...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Xiaohong Chen Yuan Zhou |
| author_facet | Xiaohong Chen Yuan Zhou |
| author_sort | Xiaohong Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Open-source collaboration, as both an open and cooperative software development paradigm and a novel production model in the era of the industrial internet, plays a pivotal role in overcoming technological bottlenecks in the industrial software industry. However, previous studies have often treated open-source collaboration as a single unified concept and have not explored the specific types of open-source collaboration and their differential effects on technological innovation. To address these gaps, this study aims to answer two core research questions: (1) What are the different types of open-source collaboration models based on their characteristics? (2) How do these collaboration models influence technological innovation in the industrial software industry? Drawing upon four representative collaboration cases in the industrial software domain, this study conducts within-case and cross-case comparative analyses to propose a typological framework based on the dimensions of coreness and complementarity. The analysis identifies four distinct open-source collaboration models: (1) single-core with high complementarity, (2) single-core with low complementarity, (3) multi-core with high complementarity, and (4) multi-core with low complementarity. The formation of these models is shaped by three key factors: strategic intentions, resource endowments, and technological capabilities. Moreover, different collaboration types exert varied impacts on organizational characteristics, innovation strategies, and technological impacts. Theoretically, this study makes an original contribution by opening the “black box” of open-source collaboration and revealing the internal mechanisms through which it shapes innovation dynamics. Practically, the findings offer targeted insights for enterprises, policymakers, and open-source communities in selecting appropriate collaboration models that align with innovation goals, thereby supporting technological upgrading and ecosystem resilience in the industrial software industry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ad6772ea7af493887847a4a445a253a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-8954 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ad6772ea7af493887847a4a445a253a2025-08-20T03:27:43ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542025-06-0113643310.3390/systems13060433Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case StudyXiaohong Chen0Yuan Zhou1School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaOpen-source collaboration, as both an open and cooperative software development paradigm and a novel production model in the era of the industrial internet, plays a pivotal role in overcoming technological bottlenecks in the industrial software industry. However, previous studies have often treated open-source collaboration as a single unified concept and have not explored the specific types of open-source collaboration and their differential effects on technological innovation. To address these gaps, this study aims to answer two core research questions: (1) What are the different types of open-source collaboration models based on their characteristics? (2) How do these collaboration models influence technological innovation in the industrial software industry? Drawing upon four representative collaboration cases in the industrial software domain, this study conducts within-case and cross-case comparative analyses to propose a typological framework based on the dimensions of coreness and complementarity. The analysis identifies four distinct open-source collaboration models: (1) single-core with high complementarity, (2) single-core with low complementarity, (3) multi-core with high complementarity, and (4) multi-core with low complementarity. The formation of these models is shaped by three key factors: strategic intentions, resource endowments, and technological capabilities. Moreover, different collaboration types exert varied impacts on organizational characteristics, innovation strategies, and technological impacts. Theoretically, this study makes an original contribution by opening the “black box” of open-source collaboration and revealing the internal mechanisms through which it shapes innovation dynamics. Practically, the findings offer targeted insights for enterprises, policymakers, and open-source communities in selecting appropriate collaboration models that align with innovation goals, thereby supporting technological upgrading and ecosystem resilience in the industrial software industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/6/433open-source collaborationindustrial software industrytechnological innovationmulti-case study |
| spellingShingle | Xiaohong Chen Yuan Zhou Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study Systems open-source collaboration industrial software industry technological innovation multi-case study |
| title | Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study |
| title_full | Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study |
| title_short | Open-Source Collaboration and Technological Innovation in the Industrial Software Industry: A Multi-Case Study |
| title_sort | open source collaboration and technological innovation in the industrial software industry a multi case study |
| topic | open-source collaboration industrial software industry technological innovation multi-case study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/6/433 |
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